Stylex

Tight Scrapes (Pretend)

By Angie Vo
Published: January 4th, 2007 | 7:51pm

Tight Scrapes is an apt album name for Toledo, Ohio's dance-punk band Stylex. Thirteen cuts of frenetic melee made with the guitar, synthesizer, and drum machine stylings of Brian Kantorski, Joel Roberts, and Jeff Loose follow the hard-driving yelp of singer Dustin Hostetler. This is their fourth full-length, and it further solidifies their place in Ohio's electro-punk family that includes Devo and Brainiac.

From the beginning of opening track "Moves," you know you're in for an intense experience. Stylex can make ordinary things, like relationship breakups, seem all consuming and tragic without sounding weak, thanks to a careening tempo and lyrics that hit their mark far more often than they miss. Standouts on the album include "Escaper" and "Doppelganger." Put this on when you feel like getting lost in a dark-tinged melody.